A throng of 300-plus people were honored by the race's Legacy Foundation on the afternoon before the 35th anniversary edition of the race.

Share this:

Ten-year loyalty runner Kurt Braaten met his now finance Ku’uipo Koahou at the marathon two years ago, they’re engages and still running strong in Long Beach on Saturday, October 12, 2019. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

At least a decade of aching calves, banged-up ankles and untold blisters. That’s what the folks who gathered Saturday, Oct. 12 at Long Beach’s Expo Hall all had in common. Oh, and a lot of pride and resilience, too.

The Legacy Plaque will eventually be displayed permanently along the race route, officials said, most likely in Shoreline Park.
Ten-year loyalty runners, like Sophie de Jesus – Jinzo, got a special medal this year and a chance to celebrate inside the expo the day before the big race in Long Beach on Saturday, October 12, 2019. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

“It’s awesome that they are honoring the legacy runners like me with a plaque,” said Kurt Braaten, 57, of Huntington Beach. “It will be cool to see in the park in years to come.”

After running his ninth LB half-marathon two years ago, Braaten struck up a conversation with Ku’uipo Koahou, of Beaumont, in the race’s Legacy Beer Garden. The couple will be married in July of 2021.

“I love Long Beach, I grew up here and this race has very friendly people who run it,” said Kenneth Williams, 57, a Long Beach native and Jordan High graduate. ” I’ve been to other marathons and they’re just not the same.”

Williams, an animal control officer, now resides in the High Desert area, but like many Southern California runners, he always marks a spot on his calendar for Long Beach.

“The course is wonderful, getting to run by the ocean and seeing the boats coming in,” said Williams, who’s run in every race since 1982. “It cools me down.”

“Long Beach is great place for runners to come to enjoy the Southern California feel. We have runners from 44 different states and six different countries represented here this year,” said Alex Bennett, vice president of operations for the race.

“The people who have been dedicated to running this race every year for at least 10 years is a fact that deserves to be celebrated,” said Bennett, “and it also gives people just starting out in marathon running something to strive for.”

“I started running marathons to improve my health,” said Deo Jaravata, 54, a math teacher at San Fernando High School who has run the LB Marathon 15 times — and 472 marathons overall since he ran his first in 1997.
Registered marathon runners look for their names printed on a huge banner inside the expo the day before the big race in Long Beach on Saturday, October 12, 2019. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

“I used to get depressed a lot, but since I started running I find that I’m happier and have a lot more energy,” said Jaravata, a native of the Philippines. “I did my 100th marathon here in Long Beach in 2005 and also my 300th here in 2011. Tomorrow I will do my 473rd here.”

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.